The Tank ready to roll for Bath

THOMAS du Toit remains on standby for the Springboks but, for now, his focus is on quickly learning the ropes at Bath.

- JON NEWCOMBE

The 2019 World Cup winner believes moving to the Premiership will only make him a better player and has been blown away by the environment he now finds himself in.

Du Toit, who has 18 caps to his name, has come over to England with his wife and two children and, while disappointed not to be at a second World Cup, the tight-head has very few complaints about his new life.

Even having to sit on boxes as makeshift chairs in his new house cannot take away from his enthusiasm.

"I've been at the Sharks for 10 years so all I really know is Kings Park so I am excited to call another place home," he said.

"It's been an unbelievable experience and I have been loving it, loving the club, loving the boys, loving everything here.

I am excited to get into the season. It's been long enough for me to be out of games. For a prop you need to continue moving forward otherwise you will get slack and fat and stop playing well!" Tu Toit made his debut for Bath in yesterday's Premiership Cup fixture against Northampton. It was his first competitive game since the Sharks' season in the United Rugby Championship finished in May.

The specialist tighthead currently weighs about 20 stone (128kgs), but the man they call 'The Tank' admits he may have to get leaner if his experience of the practice match against the Ospreys is anything to go by.